About a year ago, I spent time in Nashville test driving a large number of instruments in the higher dollar range (your price range for reference). As always, they had a wide variety of tones and feel. There is so much variety in the mandolin world that I honestly could not imagine buying at a distance.
Someone above suggested taking a portion of your purchase 'budget' and using it for a shopping road trip. I think you'd have fun, find the best instrument for you and walk away without buyers' remorse. You win on all counts.
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